The Oakenbury Curse Part 1

In Oakenbury, a village where cobbled streets were lined crystal shops, mornings always began with noise—the creak of doors, the clatter of shutters, the flap of market stalls in the wind. From his bedroom above the high street, Odd could tell the time just by listening.

But not today. This morning, Odd woke up to silence.

Most people liked quiet mornings, but in Oakenbury, silence was a warning —especially for Odd, who had lost his sight as a baby.

“Mum?” He called from his bed.

No reply. Just the gentle snore of Witless, his dog, lying in the corner.

He swung his legs from the bed, groped for his nightgown, and felt for the wall as Witless padded close, nails ticking on the floorboards. When he reached his Mum’s room, he found her snoring softly in bed.

Only she wouldn’t wake. No matter how hard Odd shook her, his mother remained asleep.

Fear gripped Odd’s heart. He knew exactly what this was.

NEXT STOP: Go to Woodruff’s Cafe for Part 2